Accra, April 7, GNA - Ghana Telecom (GT) on Wednesday signed a 4.3 billion-cedi sponsorship package with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to sponsor both this season's Premier League and the Gala competitions.

The deal is made up of 3.1 billion cedis for the league and the gala plus a 1.2 billion-cedi for marketing and support services for both events.

Out of the 3.1 billion cedis, GT is pumping 300 million cedis into the two-day competition, which was launched in Accra last night. It is the first time the telecommunication company is sponsoring the competition in its 24-year history to herald the commencement of the national Premier league.

The competition, previously known as the "Guinness Gala" would bounce back this weekend after a two-year break.

Mr Oduro Nyani, Deputy Chief Executive of GT, signed on behalf of his company while Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, Chairman of the GFA initialled for the association.

Mr Nyani said the company has been involved in women football over years but decided to extend it to the male division as part of the company's effort at promoting the game in general.

Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe expressed appreciation to GT and called for a positive image of the game to attract more sponsorship in the future. He said the GFA would empower all sub-committees of the association to carry out their duties effectively to ensure that the game was given an image that would enhance its ability to attract more sponsorship. The GFA Chairman said hooliganism, bad officiating, and unnecessary postponements among other negative practices have damaged the image of the game and called on all stakeholders to desist from that practice.